Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - The RANDY Awards: Category IV, season two

 Category IV is for the Best Combination of Design and Set Elements.  In the past this would have acknowledged production aspects like "Set Design," "Sound," "Lighting," even "Props."  With the rapid and ever expanding integration of Computer Generated Imagery, coupled with Artificial Intelligence and the untapped potential as this technology erupts, a combination of these previous award categories into a single more encompassing one made sense.  

Season One's recipient was "Spock Amok," an episode with wonderful sets, amazing design details, unusual special effects and delightful structural elements.  The second annual Randy Award in this category goes to "The Broken Circle," season two's inaugural episode.  Like its predecessor, "The Broken Circle" covers a wide range of varied and diverse production elements.  Sets on a star base, on two star ships, and on a very interesting planet.  Special effects with models and space detritus and pyrotechnics. A plethora of props and set pieces that create a reality full of diverse inevitability.  En toto, it's a rich tapestry; deep and wide, the perfect canvas for wonderful storytelling.

I am Enchanted: The Wisdom of Charlie MacKesy

The older I get the more I love wisdom that is simple.

You know that it is wise because you feel its truth inside.

You know it's true because it's never easy.

Dinner: Veggie Puffed-Pastry

 One of the things that I really love about myself as cook.  I can go to a restaurant.  Eat something amazing.  I pretty much know how to replicate it myself.  The flip side of which looks like this:  I get a hankering for some flavor or combination of flavors.  My mind starts to image a dish, and before long I have it all laid out in my head.  Now, a lot of people cook without recipes, and really that's all I'm doing.  

But feel so confident in the outcome of some idea and nailing it 90% of the time--that just make me happy.

VEGGIE PUFFED PASTRY

What Did I Do?

1) Roasted a pound of thick cut Button Mushrooms

2) Blanched a fist-full of medium girth wild Asparagus tips and tender stems
3) Tossed in 1/2 a cup of frozen petite Peas

4) 1 large, juicy stalk of Celery, diced

5) Whip up a simple Bechamel Sauce:

- Equal parts flour and unsalted butter whisked into a roux

- Seasoned with generous pinches of Tarragon, Thyme, and ground Black Pepper.
6) Stir in all the veggies
7) Cut a slab of Puff Pastry to four equal squares and roll out a little larger (increase of 25%)

8) Tuck the squares into pre-buttered large muffin tin cups (6 to pan size)
9) Fill with the veggie mix

10) fold over the loose ends of the pastry and give all an egg wash

11) Bake at 425F for 35-45 minutes until puffed and golden brown--you know your oven.

12) Let cool for 12 minute and the twist gently and remove to plate and eat.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - The RANDY Awards: Category III, season two

 All right, we've arrived at the first of now four categories with 3 award degrees: Gold, Silver, and Bronze.  Category III is designed to honor the work of actors who are not members of the main cast, nor are they members of the recurring cast. (unlike in season one, when they might have been).  These actors have played a part of lessor width than a Featured Guest actor; however, their performance has stood out and contributed some very special and memorable to the episode.

In season one I honored actors who portrayed a Romulan Captain, a Majalin father trying to save his son from becoming a human sacrifice, and an Orian Pirate whose competence proved assailable.  This season, supportive roles performed by women and Vulcans stood out.  

My Bronze award goes to Graeme Somerville for his portrayal of the overly stoic, Vice Admiral Pasalk.  Somerville has had a long and rich career in the Professional Theatre Community of Ontario and Quebec.  The fact that this series is filmed in Canada provides those of us who live in the United States the chance to experience many fresh yet seasoned actors.  You may not know, but in the original cast both William Shatner and James Doohan were born in Canada.  Somerville's role was part of the second season's second episode "Ad Astra Per Aspera" written by Kathryn Lyn and Henry Alonso Myers.  It first aired on July 13, 2023.

The Silver Award in this category goes to another Canadian Actor, Ellora Patnaik, who portrayed T'Prill, T'Pring's exacting and judgmental mother.  Patnaik was born and raised in Toronto to Indian immigrants and has a resume that includes nearly 60 films and CBC TV series.

Keeping it all Canada all the time, the Gold Award goes to Mia Kirshner who portays Amanda Grayson, Spock's mother.  A role that she initiated on Star Trek: Discovery.  Kirshner is also a very successful actor in the Canadian film and TV industry.  Both the Silver and Gold winners roles come out of the episode "Charades" written by Dana Horgan & Onitra Johnson.  I aired on June 22, 2023.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - The RANDY Awards: Category II, Season Two

From the best "Stand Alone" episode to the best "Ensemble" episode.  When you have episodic TV with a relatively large cast, you often have episodes that focus of the arc or the backstory of a single character, OR a pivotal experience between a limited number of characters.  Sometimes the result is so powerful and so memorable that it gets dubbed "Spock's Episode" or "Worf's Episode".  One need only consider the offerings from Strange New Worlds season 3 to recall "Ortegas' Episode."

The ensemble award is to acknowledge the polar opposite.  It is the episode in which everyone had a role to play and weight to carry to the good of the whole.  And with that in mind, there is only one possible winner from season 2.  "Space Rhapsody" was so far outside of the box that it engendered a response from fans which left few if any sitting on the fence.   

When you look at sites that rate such things with a broad range of participants, the "singing" episode does not fare particularly well.  I acknowledge it's short comings.  Chief among which was the uneven quality of the original score.  I absolutely adore the opening number.  Cole Porter never wrote more intricate lyrics and the driving melody just wells up with anticipation.  Likewise, the finale, though a bit cheesy when combined with all the high school grade choreography was a good song.  All the others in the middle needed the proverbial out of town notices on their way to Broadway.  

While some members of the cast have great voices, Celia Rose Gooding (Uhuru) won a Grammy in 2021 for her work on the Broadway Cast recording of "Jagged Little Pill".  Christina Chong (La'an) release an extended play collection of songs in 2021 entitled "Since 2021", and since 2021 a series of 5 singles, one of which features Jonathan Peck (Spock).  Others, like Babs Olusonmokun (Dr. M'Benga) gave thanks for the marvels of auto-tune.  Which, in a way, made his participation in the project even more endearing.  

Like it, Love it, or Hate it--Any which way you cut it--"Space Rhapsody" is clearly Strange New Worlds season two Best Ensemble show!  Written by Dana Horgan and Bill Willkolf, the episode first aired on August 10, 2023.

Breakky: Fresh Broccoli and Scrambled Eggs, Toasted Sourdough Bread, Fried Green Tomato with Cholula Chapotle Hot Sauce and Hazelnut Coffee.

At my favorite seat in the "Jungle" Room.

 

Snowy moment: Arctic Wolves